Frequently Asked Questions

What is a community based virtual power plant

A virtual power plant is a network of generators of electricity that join together to operate like a single power plant. The community-based version offers a community the opportunity to provide its energy needs with small-scale, distributed low-carbon technologies with participation from individual consumers, local energy co-operatives or companies, or SMEs.

There are no new wires, or cables required, communities and citizens can generate renewable power, the virtual power plant aggregates the power, and then distributes it back to its customers.

I want to buy my electricity from Community Power, Can I Switch?

Yes. Whether you are a household, community, business, public or private building user, if you currently buy electricity anywhere on the island of Ireland, you can switch and buy your electricity from Community Power.

We are taking on new customers in batches. Our current batch is open within the areas of the following energy co-operatives (Aran Islands Energy Co-operative, Limerick Urban Co-op-Tait House, Claremorris and Western District Energy Co-operative, Energy Communities Tipperary Co-operative), but we are open to all customers located on the island of Ireland. If you would like to become a customer of Community Power register your interest here, and we will contact you with the next steps.

I want to sell my renewable electricity to Community Power, Can I?

Yes. If you are a local energy company, energy co-operative, community organisation, or citizen generating renewable electricity you can sell it to Community Power. We do this by entering into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with small to medium sized generators. Community Power is one of a small number of licenced suppliers who can provide a PPA to generators of electricity.

If you are a household or small building with microgeneration you will need to have an export meter installed to monitor the amount of electricity that you are exporting. We will be taking on micro generators in batches in the near future. If you would like to sell your micro-generation to Community Power, register your interest here, and we will contact you with the next steps. Community Power are not in a position to offer any subsidy to microgenerators as there are no national subsidies for microgeneration in Ireland, but will pay a fair price for all renewable electricity.

If you have renewable generator, approximately 50 kw or greater and you would like to sell your power to Community Power, Community Power can offer a fair Power Purchase Agreement. Or if you or your organisation is exploring ‘on site’ renewable generation, and have a requirement for a licenced supply company, we can help. Again, please register your interest here.

I want to own/my community wants to own a renewable energy development/part of a renewable energy development, Can I/we do that in Ireland?

Almost! Community and citizen ownership of renewable energy is supported in European and Irish energy policy, unfortunately in practice however in Ireland this remains very difficult with some significant barriers in relation to connecting renewables to the grid, and market supports.

Community Power will soon be launching a share offer for communities/co-operatives/citizens to invest in and own a solar farms in Ireland.